PUBLIC FORUM : HAYDEN: `MY EFFORTS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED'.

The Daily News once again has mischaracterized my position on the Boland bill (Editorials, Aug. 8).

From Day One, I have strongly endorsed the core principle of the bill - to end the undemocratic veto of the city over the Valley's right to secede.

From Day One, I have said that there are not 21 votes in the Senate to pass the Boland bill in pure form.

From Day One, I have observed that the price of lifting the veto would be accepting a citywide vote on Valley secession. It's the only way to achieve 21 votes.

In addition, I have pressed for the option of smaller communities obtaining more power over zoning and development.

The Daily News has accused me of throwing ``monkey wrenches'' and trying to ``scuttle'' the bill, ignoring my efforts to get it to the floor for a vote. My efforts have been recognized by Paula Boland, Valley Vote and the bill's supporters. I challenge the Daily News to ask Boland if she considers me a part of the enemy camp.

Now, after weeks of bashing, the Daily News endorses a citywide vote! That's a reasonable and pragmatic stand. Why was it selling out only last week?

- Tom Hayden 

Senator, 23rd District

Los Angeles 

I read that Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer, D-Hayward, wants to keep the Valley secession tied up for two years while wasting $1.2 million of the state's money by holding studies on whether the Valley's secession will impact any economic changes on the city for Los Angeles.

The bumpkins that sit on the City Council will then have to obtain new money-raising schemes, something that has plagued Valley homeowners for years.

The main problem that plagues the Valley homeowners are all the broken promises from a City Council that is like the three monkeys, with one change: See nothing and do nothing.

- Benjamin R. Laufer

Sherman Oaks

Speaking of freebies

Councilman Richard Alarcon ``finds it unconscionable'' that O.J. Simpson received special favors by supposedly receiving free use of a golf cart while golfing at the Hansen Dam Golf Course.

Apparently Alarcon was so upset that he wrote a letter to the Parks Commission president, only to find later that the story was untrue. But what I failed to understand from your Daily News story is what was it exactly that Alarcon found so unconscionable? Was it specifically that Simpson might have received a freebie?

I'm sure I will continue to ponder that as I clip this story and file it right behind another story about how much each council member spent to redecorate their offices and the cost of the cars they drove.

I don't seem to recall that each council member paid for these things from their own pockets.

- Sharon Stewart

Reseda

Tired of political bashing

Hey, even we old fogey conservatives are getting sort of tired of all the Bill Clinton bashing we keep hearing. He can't really be that bad a person, can he?

Now the Democrats are starting to bash Bob Dole, although I can't see that there's much to bash.

Anyway, I would always prefer buying from a crusty curmudgeon than a guy who sounds like a glib used-car salesman who has no obligation to provide you with a warranty.

- Bill Beaver

Lancaster

Communication failure

If the superintendent's assistant for communications, Brad Sales, thinks holding a report for 52 days is not holding up a report from the public, then we have a failure to communicate; and since Sales' job is ``to communicate'' then perhaps his salary of more than $90,000 annually ought to be used for better purposes. Otherwise, we need to reinvent the use of the old term ``a sales job.''

On second thought, compared to the district's deep-six of a recent study by Deloitte-Touche analyzing management or selectively responding to the comprehensive Anderson study of LAUSD's management system, 52 days may be described as a rapid response.

When I think of the number 52, I'm usually playing with a full deck, excluding the jokers.

- David Tokofsky

Member of the board

Los Angeles

Save our National Parks system

I would like to address the issue of lack of funding in the National Park system. Without the money for maintenance and proper staffing, many parks suffer from lack of upkeep and law enforcement.

The number of visitors continues to increase along with the amount of litter and crime. Meanwhile, funding is being cut and the tax money that should be going to the parks is going elsewhere instead.

Many people feel that nature is free and the usage of it should be also. But what about the money needed for trail and campground maintenance, facility upkeep and trash disposal, visitor use of roads, and staffing park rangers, tour guides and search and rescue members?

Some money may come if concessionaires are made to give up more of their profits and the proposed official sponsoring of National Parks passes into effect. However, this money is not enough and tax money alone doesn't cover these services.

The bottom line is that users need to understand the problem and be willing to pay increased entrance fees to stop the deterioration of our National Parks.

- Marie Lennette

Thousand Oaks 

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Photo: Entering Yosemite: Number of visitors continues to i ncrease Associated Press